Business in the Time of COVID-19

COVID-19 Resources

This is an unprecedented time in the world and our business community.

The health and well-being of our business community is our top priority. We are monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and are committed to offering up-to-date information. The resources and information below are meant to support you in making informed decisions for your business and will be updated as information becomes available.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the landscape of business services is changing by the hour and keeping track of it is challenging. This page is updated frequently. Contact the Western REN directly at wren@westernren.ca for navigation supports. The Western REN team commits to a response time of one business day.

We have also organized these resources and supports into an easy to navigate Frequently Asked Questions format

Continuing Operations & Reopening

Need clarity on how your business needs to comply with the Province’s Public Health Order? Wondering whether or not your organization can stay open? An easy-to-use assessment tool is available to determine if you may remain open, in compliance with current workplace safety requirements.

How do the regulations on gatherings impact my business?
If your business has not been subject to closures or limitations in the Health Protection Act Order, you may continue to operate with employees. If your business will continue to operate with more than 5 employees, you must apply social-distancing measures (2 metres or 6 feet from others). See Public Health Orders & Direction.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has released guidance sheets with health and safety tips and good practices for employers and workers, specific to multiple industries: COVID-19 Safety Tip Sheets

The Certified Nursing Assistants website includes a handwashing guide page taken from their training resource materiala. It contains handwashing steps that are relevant for the public that will help prevent the spread of infection disease.

Support for Businesses

The Government of Canada has created a COVID-19 Economic Response Plan to help stabilize the economy during this challenging period. Under this plan, there are new programs and measures to support Canadian businesses and workers facing hardship as a result of the outbreak.

Access Financial Support

Both the federal and provincial governments have put policies, programs and initiatives in place to assist small businesses. There is an additional $300 billion in lending capacity by the major banks and the Bank of Canada has cut the interest rate to 0.25%. Looking to access direct lending and other types of financial support?

Access additional resources

Covid-19 Small Business Loan Guarantee Program

Update (May 27, 2020): The application is re-opened, but available on a first come basis due to only modest funding still available.

The province announced a new, temporary stream for access to credit, cash grants and support delivered through participating credit unions. The program will be available starting Wednesday, April 29 with an application deadline of June 30, 2020. To be eligible, small businesses must have a payroll less than $20,000 in the previous fiscal year and have experienced a decline in revenue compared to the same period in 2019, or in the case of a new business, anticipate a decline in revenue when compared to financial projections of 15% in March; 30% in April, May or June, 2020. Maximum loan amount is $25,000. Upon approval, businesses will receive a grant up to $1,500 as well as a COVID-19 Business Continuity Voucher of up to $1,500 to help hire consultants for advice and support.

Access Website & E-Commerce Support

The Yarmouth CBDC is offering an E-Commerce Micro-Loan to small businesses in Yarmouth County only up to $2,500 + HST for the purposes of updating their websites, and adding an E-Commerce platform so that their customers can order from them. This loan has a $500 forgivable training portion, and interest rate is prime +2. The loan has no application fees, and has flexible repayment terms. Call (902) 742-5364 for more details.

New support for Canada’s fish harvesters

The Government of Canada will:

Launch the Fish Harvester Benefit, a program worth up to $267.6 million, to help provide income support for this year’s fishing seasons to eligible self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons crew who cannot access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Support will be provided to those that experience fishing income declines of greater than 25 per cent in the 2020 tax year, compared with a reference period to be identified. This measure covers 75 per cent of fishing income losses beyond a 25 per cent income decline threshold, up to a maximum individual entitlement equivalent to what is provided under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ($847 per week for up to 12 weeks).

Launch the Fish Harvester Grant, a program worth up to $201.8 million, to provide grants to help fish harvesters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and who are ineligible for the Canada Emergency Business Account or equivalent measures. This will give them more liquidity to address non-deferrable business costs. The program would provide non-repayable support of up to $10,000 to self-employed fish harvesters with a valid fishing licence. Size of the non-repayable support will vary depending on the level of fish harvesters’ historic revenue.

Propose measures or changes to Employment Insurance (EI) that would allow self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons to access EI benefits on the basis of insurable earnings from previous seasons (winter and summer claims).

Additional Support

To support small and medium-sized businesses, landlords are encouraged to defer rent payments from their commercial tenants for 3 months. Landlords may be eligible for coverage (up to a maximum of $50,000) if deferred rent can’t be recovered.

The Federal Government intends to introduce the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program for small businesses that, will seek to provide loans and/or forgivable loans to commercial property owners who in turn will lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for the months of April (retroactive), May, and June.

Implementation of the program will require a partnership with provincial and territorial governments who are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships.

Businesses, including self-employed individuals, can defer payments of HST until June 30, 2020, as well as customs duty owing on imports. The deferral is for any sales tax payments from March 27 to May 31.

The maximum duration of Work-Sharing agreements has been increased from 38 weeks to 76 weeks. The mandatory waiting period has also been waived so that employers may immediately apply for a new agreement.

Credit available to farmers and the agri-food sector has been increased. An additional $5 billion was announced to increase Farm Credit Canada’s lending capacity to producers, agribusinesses, and food processors.

Support for Employees, Individuals & the Self-Employed

Canada Emergency Response Benefit

A taxable temporary emergency income support of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months will be available for workers facing unemployment due to COVID-19, including those who are self-employed. Applications for CERB are now being accepted.

Worker Emergency Bridge Fund

The Province of Nova Scotia will provide a one-time payment of $1,000 to bridge the gap between layoffs and closures and the federal government’s Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Additional details on how to apply will be shared when they become available.

Support for Tourism Industry

To keep Nova Scotia’s Tourism Industry up-to-date on how the industry is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS) has developed the Tourism Strong platform. TIANS has also launched a dedicated facebook page that may provide some additional resources, and an opportunity to discuss the issue with others.

Canada’s Regional Development Agencies are closely monitoring the COVID-19 global challenge and the impact it is having on businesses and workers, as well as the broader economy. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is this region’s Regional Development Agency. If you are a tourism operator or small- or medium- sized business or organization and have received ACOA funding and COVID-19 is affecting your operations, you are encouraged to contact your local ACOA office to review your situation and provide guidance.

Manufacturers and Innovators Help with COVID-19 Crisis

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Public Works and Government Services Canada has established a web portal and intake form for suppliers able to provide specific products (i.e. N95 masks, gowns, gloves and other PPE) or services (i.e. nursing, food, security) • Information submitted through the web portal & generic email address are triaged by type and then referred to a procurement “tiger team” that crosswalks the information submitted through the portal to requirements determined by Public Health Agency of Canada & P/Ts Web Portal

Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada has launched a “call to action” to Canadian manufacturers to help fight COVID-19. They have created a new web page as well as an intake for manufacturers that; make needed supplies, have the potential to rapidly re-tool existing facilities or equipment, or who have skilled workers that could be available to work elsewhere in Canada. Webpage

National Research Council of Canada has issued a COVID-19 “Challenge Program” to bring together a national network of researchers and scientific facilities to address the pressing needs for supplies, medical counter measures, and disease-tracking technology. Additionally, through the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), the NRC has issued a call out, leveraging its existing relationships with Canada’s innovative SMEs, seeking innovative solutions and candidate for funding through Innovative Solutions Canada. Webpage Intake form for Challenge Program.

Announcements

The Federal Government announced more flexible rules for claiming the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) in response to critics who pointed out the initial rules excluded too many people, including those working reduced hours.

Seasonal workers and those who have recently run out of employment insurance will now also be eligible for CERB. People who make less than $1,000 a month due to reduced work hours will also qualify.

Canadians Can Now Apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (April 6, 2020)
If you have stopped working because of COVID-19, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) may provide you with temporary income support. The CERB provides $500 a week for up to 16 weeks. Applications for CERB are now being accepted.

Measures to Helps Businesses Affected by COVID-19(April 2, 2020)
The province of Nova Scotia announced a $20 million to fund the Small Business Impact Grant. Eligible small businesses and social enterprises will receive a grant of 15% of their revenue from sales up to a maximum of $5,000.

Thank you to our partner organizations the Halifax Partnership and the Cape Breton Partnership for allowing us to adapt their resources pages to match the needs of our community in many sections of the page above.